Specialty
Why Nervous System Work?
My specialty (nervous system work / somatic therapy) happened out of necessity. After working with clients for a couple of years, it became clear the “evidence based” models that rest heavily on cognitive reframing can’t touch trauma with a ten-foot pole. And that’s being kind. More often than not, cognitive means of treatment can invalidate a person’s experience and have them labeling their own protective behaviors as irrational or incorrect. It’s why some folks can still feel pretty much the same after years of therapy.
I know there’s a lot on the internet about the nervous system and that’s a good and a bad thing. Many people have a basic understanding that the nervous system is how we stay safe but beyond a few superficial tools or explanations, you either have to pay for more information or they don’t teach how to apply this information to make real change. That's where working with a trained practitioner can help integrate this knowledge and strategize how to make it work for you (even if that practitioner isn't me).
Experience & Training
Most of us aren’t taught about how the brain and body work, what it actually means that trauma is stored in the body, or how to process emotions or why we should do that. Hell, they didn’t even teach me those things in grad school to become a therapist. My 5+ years of practicing has showed me that's often the missing link in traditional therapy and why it can get stale or feel like we're going around in circles.
For over two years, I’ve worked with supervisors who specialize in somatic therapy and attended multiple trainings on nervous system work. I am currently enrolled in two in-depth and complementary programs (listed below) for a comprehensive understanding of the nervous system and how to rehabilitate it for deeper healing. This approach to therapy really is revolutionizing the way we think about talk therapy and how we treat trauma and chronic stress.
Credentials
Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, May of 2022
NC Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor - 17781
SC Licensed Professional Counselor - 11084
Certified Rehabilitation Certificate - 596932
Polyvagal Institute - The Polyvagal Certificate Course - enrolled
Neurosomatic Intelligence Certification - Expansion Lab - enrolled